Fly on the Wall Daniel Ricciardo Once Narrated Awkward Post-Quali Bust-Up Between Mercedes Teammates

Even before Netflix’s Drive to Survive graced our screens, the drama was at an all-time high in Formula 1. It was the dawn of the turbo-hybrid era and two childhood friends were pitted against each other to win the greatest prize of all. And Daniel Ricciardo got caught in the middle of it all!

Monaco isn’t a place where you can just rock up and overtake. Track position is key. And Nico Rosberg knew this. After Rosberg set his provisional pole time in 2014, he seemingly locked up in the dying embers of the session and caused a yellow flag. This meant Hamilton couldn’t set his time and pole was snatched by Rosberg. And things got pretty awkward in the press conference later.

Ricciardo remembers this quite vividly. In 2016, he was asked, “After the race you went to the press conference with Nico and Lewis. There seemed to be a bit of an atmosphere…” to which the Honey Badger replied, “It was pretty awkward after quali and it didn’t get any better. They seemed pretty keen to not talk to each other, I was just happy to stay out of it!”

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Monaco hasn’t let Ricciardo be. Two years on from that awkward encounter in 2016, Ricciardo faced a big loss of his F1 career on the streets of the principality. But 2018, well, 2018 was Redemption day.

Daniel Ricciardo: Redemption Day, 2018

Back in 2016, a botched pit-stop cost Ricciardo victory at Monaco. That being said, he kept his head down, pushed hard, and got his chance once again in 2018. And this time, he defied all odds to come out victorious on the same streets where he was dealt the most devastating blow of his F1 career. Battling an engine issue throughout the race, he held on and won the Monaco GP.

After the race, he said, “I think I can show emotion today than yesterday. This is two years in the making so I finally feel like the redemption has arrived. We had problems. We had a lot to deal with during the race. I felt a loss of power and I thought the race was done. I got home just using six gears. Thanks to the team. We got it back. I’m stoked.”

“There were a few doubts that came in mid-race but…we won Monaco. It feels good!”

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His McLaren exit puts him in a similar situation. But like he showed us in Monaco, can the Honey Badger deliver vindication to himself once again?